RSB
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KM 36 Freelance Steam BoatHere is my latest purchase
Although its not strictly Toyshop steam, i thought i would make a thread anyway. I have never owned a steam boat before but was offered to me by a friend at a good price so i couldn't resist.
It was built either in the 1940's or early 1950's and was used across south London on numerous boating ponds. I have several press photos of it racing in a gala on the pond in Wimbledon common in the 1960's. In the early 1970's the owner / builder passed away and was passed on to my friend along with various other boats.
It was steamed several times in the 1970's with success, but the engine was removed and was then placed into storage.
Its approx 5ft long and built for straight running.
It is mainly made from a combination of steel & alliminum, the engine was a Stuart & Turner Sun engine connected to a "Babcock" style boiler, fired by a Petrol / Paraffin burner.
Once i do a hydraulic test on the boiler and all is well, i will add my stuart sun engine back in and have ago at steaming it... one day!
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Scorpion2nz
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while it may not be toy shop steam. never the less it is steam!!
and to me it looks as if it is a hurry to go some where fast
hope to see video one day soon.
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Spokesmann
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Rich, this may be predominantly a toy steam forum, but please dont hesitate to show quality stuff like this, we embrace all types of steam here toys or models or the real thing. That is a fantastic piece. Im sure our ST fans would love to see the engine unit up closer. Keep it coming.
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newts
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Definitely more close up pics please 
Trouble is that one steam boat is never enough 
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Spokesmann
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| newts wrote: | Definitely more close up pics please
Trouble is that one steam boat is never enough |
I agree...
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Mamod Collector
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Your a lucky boy Rich, that is lovely
If you get the chance could you also post the press articals
I for one would enjoy reading those, more pics also please
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RSB
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hate to tell everyone, but my name is Rob
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Spokesmann
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| RSB wrote: | | hate to tell everyone, but my name is Rob |
Sorry Rob 
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Mamod Collector
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Many appolagies from me to Rob
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Phantom
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boatReally nice boat, love the design of the hull.
Any chance of pics of the engine and boiler
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MFSteam
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Thats one fine piece of kit. The old Model engineers of the 30s, 40s and 50s carry many articles about boats similar to this. Just a shame they are not as popular as they once were.
Great find and great addition to any collection.
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RSB
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Sorry i've been a bit busy this week so i have haven't had time to look at the forum;
I will tomorrow take a couple of photos of the boiler setup as well as the Stuart engine.
I had hoped that it was a case of bolting in place my Stuart & Turner Sun engine in place of the one that was removed, however i've discovered that the one which was removed had been converted to slide valve and therefore all the linkages etc for regulating the steam are different.
Plus i was hoping that the gearbox which had been added to the end of my Sun engine would not interfere, but a bracket which holds the water pump is in the way, meaning i now have to remove the gearbox & lubricator from the engine - life is never simple....
Has anyone had experiance of Stuart & Turner Sun engines? Reading a early catologue they stated they were a perfect engine for such a machine, but various people had told me they were never satisfactory.
If all else fails i have various other engines i could use, but i maybe on the lookout for another stuart Sun or Sirius engine, anyone have one they wish to sell?
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Scorpion2nz
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while I have had no experience with any S & T engines I can only assume they are like any engine of any sort they all have their faults/good points . what is crap to one person will be gold to some one else . whether the sun engine is suitable ? well a lot will come down to the installer and operator "YOU" I would think how you setup and operate will at the end of the day have a big bearing on it suitability . we await further installations in this ongoing project .
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RSB
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Here is a photo from the back of the boat showing the burner setup & backhead of boiler.
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Spokesmann
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A very interesting shot, technically very complex by the looks of it. What is the coil around the burner?
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RSB
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I have finally scaned the press photos taken of the boat when it was at a gala on wimbledon common. Age of the photo is unknown but i'm guessing in the early 1960's.
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Spokesmann
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Check out those waders! 
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newts
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Great photos, classic boats too
I wonder where all the other boats are now?
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